A witness has come forward to share new details about Princess Anne’s horror horse attack as the beloved royal remains hospitalised in Bristol while recovering from her injuries.
Former royal correspondent Michael Cole claims Princess Anne’s horse-related incident, which left her hospitalised, might be “more serious” than Buckingham Palace has disclosed.
The Palace stated that the Princess Royal suffered “minor injuries and concussion” at Gatcombe Park.
Buckingham Palace disclosed in a statement on social media: “The Princess Royal has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening.”
“Her Royal Highness remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery.
“The King has been kept closely informed and joins the whole royal family in sending his fondest love and well-wishes to the princess for a speedy recovery.”
Cole told GB News during a recent interview that staying overnight in hospital suggests the incident was “not a minor matter”.
He noted that Princess Anne, known for her toughness, wouldn’t go to hospital lightly.
“She has stayed overnight and I think that should be an indication that this was no minor matter,” he told GB News hosts Emily Carver and Tom Harwood.
“As we all know, she’s quite a tough cookie and for her to go to a hospital in Bristol means that there was a cause for that.
“Obviously, they have to keep it under observation with a concussion. It could be just a bang on the head and you’re seeing stars, or it may be something more serious.”
Anne, a keen horsewoman and former equestrian, is understood to have been kicked by a horse while out for an evening stroll on the grounds of her Gatcombe Park estate on Sunday night.
On Monday, one of Anne’s neighbours revealed to the Daily Express newspaper that they saw an air ambulance land followed by a police helicopter circling near Anne’s home at 9.15pm and “thought the worst”.
“I saw an air ambulance landing on her estate and I thought ‘oh my goodness, I hope it’s not Anne’,” they told the newspaper.
The beloved royal family member remains hospitalised in Bristol. Picture by WPA Pool/Getty Images.
“And then the police helicopter started circling about ten minutes later and I thought the worst.
“The air ambulance was on the ground for about 40 minutes I think – I’m not sure if it took her to hospital, but didn’t look like it did as it flew off the other way. I really hope she’s going to be okay.”
Although an air ambulance was dispatched from the scene, it is understood that the Princess received urgent medical attention before being transported to a local hospital by ambulance.
Anne is understood to have suffered a concussion and minor injuries in the incident, which marks at least the second time the Princess Royal has been injured by a horse.
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The incident occurred at Anne’s country home Gatcombe Park. Picture by Samir Hussein/WireImage.
The royal competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics as an equestrian and cracked a vertebrae after falling off her horse Goodwill.
The 73-year-old’s husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, is understood to have accompanied his wife to the hospital, while her daughter and son-in-law Zara and Mike Tindall were also at Gatcombe at the time of the incident.
Anne has owned the Grade II listed country home and estate since 1976 after receiving the home as a wedding present from her mother Queen Elizabeth II.
The extensive grounds are often used for horse trials and covers about 730 acres in Gloucestershire.
Princess Anne’s home in Gatcombe Park. Picture: Getty.
“The Princess Royal has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening,” Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement on Monday.
“Her Royal Highness remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery.
“The King has been kept closely informed and joins the whole royal family in sending his fondest love and well-wishes to the princess for a speedy recovery.”
Princess Anne is recovering in hospital after being admitted with a minor head injury and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate.
Buckingham Palace disclosed in a statement on social media: “The Princess Royal has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening.”
“Her Royal Highness remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery.
“The King has been kept closely informed and joins the whole royal family in sending his fondest love and well-wishes to the princess for a speedy recovery.”
Meanwhile, royal correspondent Michael Cole believes Anne’s injuries may be more serious than the palace has disclosed.
“She has stayed overnight and I think that should be an indication that this was no minor matter,” he told GB News hosts Emily Carver and Tom Harwood on Monday evening.
“As we all know, she’s quite a tough cookie and for her to go to a hospital in Bristol means that there was a cause for that.
“Obviously, they have to keep it under observation with a concussion. It could be just a bang on the head and you’re seeing stars, or it may be something more serious.”